Please help me plant my garden

[Susie]

Have you worked out which parts of your garden get the sunshine and at what time of day? That will affect what you can plant and where. Herbs generally like it sunny and well drained.

What is your soil like?

Your garden is a similar size to mine, mine is 35' sq with decking along the side nearest the house. I have completely transformed my garden and I am very pleased with the wildlife I have attracted so far. I am looking forward to seeing you transform yours.

[cutecoot]

Might be a bit of a long shot, depending on whether or not they are already in your area, but I found that when I grew masses of forget-me-nots, every year a pair of bullfinches and their young would come down to feed on the seeds, so try planting a few of those but don't pull them up immediately after flowering!

[nightshade]

I planted a runner of a THORNLESS Blackberry in the garden and forgot about it. This along with our grapevine brings in more wildlife and the odd tasty blackberry helps the gardening along

[Ida]

An easy annual to try is Phacelia tanacetifolia. This plant blooms all summer and is by far the most popular flower with the bees in my garden - it gets smothered in them. It also seems to be completely slug/snail proof, which is a major plus point for me!

I think it's usually sold as a green manure, but the Organic Gardening Catalogue also has smaller packets of seeds available for flower-garden use.

[cutecoot]

Originally Posted by Ida

An easy annual to try is Phacelia tanacetifolia ... It also seems to be completely slug/snail proof, which is a major plus point for me!

I'll definitely give that one a go in my garden then, Ida

[sunnydale]

Hi woody,

This link contains a long list of plants/shrubs/trees/climbers....all of which attract a variety of wildlife, including moths!

I've used the list myself when choosing plants for my garden, although not every plant I have is on it.

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/vir.../PlantList.pdf

[Jez]

Dames Violet Is 1 plant I want to find room for!

Since Woody has put the feeders out I'd do away with planting Cotoneaster as there is now a plentyful supply of food for the birds all year round & also planting it in with Blackthorn may increase the chances of any possible Hairstreak eggs being eaten in the hedge?!?

I'd plum for a native alternative such as Field Maple which is another small tree ideal for hedging and also hairstreaks!

Purely a mere suggestion!